Collapsible clothes support and table



. June 3, 1969 D. LEHRMAN COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES SUPPORT AND TABLE SheetFiled July 5, 1967 mm Mn R WHW E L I w w fl Q M B 4 a y w 4 5 v z z 7 ja N M v n a Arron 5m D. LEHRMAN June 3, 1969 COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHES SUPPORTAND TABLE Sheet Filed July 5, I967 viii/Illa ll/ll/Il I'IIIIII! illlllll Ill/Ill'll/l/lll United States Patent 3,447,488 COLLAPSIBLECLOTHES SUPPORT AND TABLE David Lehrman, Cheltenham, Pa., assignor toThe Ironees Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaFiled July 5, 1967, Ser. No. 651,177 Int. Cl. A47b 41/04, 35/00, 37/04U.S. Cl. 108-28 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventionrelates to apparatus providing a clothes support and work table, andmore particularly, to apparatus providing both a clothes support andwork table collapsible to a compact portable unit.

Movable self-supported clothes supports, which provide a generallyhorizontal bar for the hanging of items of clothing, have been foundexceedingly useful by housewives and others. Such apparatus is useful asan adjunct to the efiicient performance of household chores such asironing, and provide a convenient means whereby newly ironed articles ofclothing can be immediately hung to avoid wrinkling. Known apparatus,such as that shown in Patent 2,576,067 provided for a support as anattachment for an ironing board, and self-standing sup ports may beplaced alongside an ironing board so that ironed items may beimmediately hung.

It has been found that the utility of a self-standing clothes supportcan be greatly increased by providing, in association with the caddy, ahorizontal table member upon which non-hangable items, or itemspreferably folded immediately upon ironing, may be temporarily stored.Examples of such items are folded shirts, sheets, pillow cases or thelike. A table member may also provide a repository for items prior toironing. Moreover, the utility of clothes supports can be greatlyincreased if they are vertically adjustable, although verticallyadjusltable supports are not, per se, new. Thus housewives are presentedthe option of ironing in a standing or seated position, and in eithercase, can place the sup port at their fingertips. If also collapsible toa flat position, the support affords the added advantage of ease ofstorage.

The present invention is an apparatus which provides all of theforegoing advantages, as well as the vadded advantage of adaptabilityfor :use as a self-standing support only, as a support and work table,or as a self-supported work table only. Moreover, the work table of theapparatus can be moved to desired positions about the support withoutmovement of the support itself.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatusproviding both a clothes support and work table.

It is another object of this invention to provide a selfstandingapparatus including a clothes support and work table.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus includinga clothes support and work table which is collapsible to a flat positionfor storage.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an 3,447,488Patented June 3, 1969 apparatus including a table movable to selectedhorizontal positions about the clothes support.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an apparatus whichcan be used as a clothes support alone, as a clothes support andassociated work table, or as a work table alone.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The foregoing and other objects may be achieved by an apparatus which ina preferred embodiment includes a base, an upright member coupled to thebase, a horizontal arm secured to an upper portion of the uprightmember, and a table member pivotably secured to a medial portion of theupright member for pivoting thereabout.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is -a perspective view showing an apparatus in accordance withthe present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of an apparatus in accordance with the inventionshowing in phantom various positions of the table.

FIGURE 3 is a side view, showing the apparatus in collapsed position forstorage.

FIGURE 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 inFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in FIGURE1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 6--6 in FIGURE5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicatelike elements, there is seen in FIGURE 1 an apparatus designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 10. The apparatus includes a base 12,which includes anti-friction means 14 for contacting a support surface.The anti-friction means 14 may take the form of caster wheels.Suflicient numbers of the antifriction means 14 are provided to make astable support platform. An upright member designated generally by thereference numeral 16 is coupled to the base 12. The upright member 16includes in a preferred embodiment telescoping segments 18 and 20.Pivotably secured to an upper end of the segment 20 is a notched valetarm 22.

A work table designated generally by the reference numeral 24 is coupledto the segment 18 of the upright member 16. The Work table 24 includes aflat and generally horizont-al table member 26. A hinge, to be morefully described later, secures one edge of the table member 26 to thesegment 18. Pivoted to the table member 26 in the illustrated embodimentare depending leg members 28 and 30. The leg members 28 and 30 may beinterconnected by tie rods, such as the rod 32, to form a pivotable legunit. Collapsible braces 34 may be provided for the leg members 28 and30, and the leg members are provided at their lower ends with anantifriction means 36, preferably caster wheels.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an exemplary arrangement whereby the upright member16 can be made adjustable as to height. In FIGURE 4, the segments 18 and20 are concentric tubular elements of circular cross-section. Thesegment 18 is provided with a series of vertically spaced detentopenings 38. A flat spring member 42 is disposed within the segment 20,with its ends abutting the inside wall. A locking finger 44 is securedto a medial portion of the fiat spring member 42, and extends through aclearance opening 40- in the segment 30. In FIGURE 4, wherein theupright member 16 is locked in one of its selected positions, thelocking finger 44 extends through the clearance opening 40 and aselected detent opening 38. Should it be desired to lengthen or shortenthe upright member 16, pressure is placed on the rounded end of thelocking finger 44 to remove it from the detent opening 38 and thesegment 20 moved to its desired position. The flat spring member 42 willthen urge the locking finger 44 through the proper detent opening tolock the segment against further relative movement.

As is evident from FIGURE 2, the work table 24 in the illustratedembodiment of the present invention is rotatable for a full 360 aboutthe upright member 16. A user of the apparatus can therefore positionthe clothes caddy defined by the base 12, upright member 16 and valetarm 22 as desired, and then rotate the work table 24 to the mostconvenient position. The saving in time and motion obtained by the useris self evident.

FIGURES and 6 illustrate a preferred arrangement whereby the work table24 is pivotably coupled to the upright member 16. As seen in FIGURE 5,the segment 18 of the upright member 16 is of circular cross-section,and accordingly its outer diameter provides a pivot about which the worktable 24 may rotate. A collar 46 encircles the segment 18 and is securedto the segment 18 at a fixed vertical position. It will be understoodthat the collar 46 may be a screw-operated split collar or the like, ora continuous collar permanently secured to the segment 18. The collar48, which is secured to the table member 26 in a manner which will bedescribed, rests on the collar 46, and is blocked by the collar 46 fromdownward movement. Thus, the collars 46 and 48 define hinge meanscoupling the table member 26 to the upright member 16 for movement in ahorizontal plane. The anti-friction means 36 at the lower ends of theleg members 28 and 30 aid selective movement of the work table 24.

An important aspect of the present invention is the manner in which itis foldable to the exceedingly fiat configuration as shown in FIGURE 3.To this end, the valet arm 22 is provided with clevis 50. The pivot pin52 joins the clevis 50 to an upper end of the segment 20. Thus,referring again to FIGURE 1, the valet arm 22 is movable from anoperative position wherein it is disposed at right angles to the uprightmember 16, and generally horizontally, to a folded position seen inphantom in FIGURE 1 wherein it is disposed generally parallel to thesegment 20 of the upright member 16. Obviously, means other than theclevis 50 and pivot pin 52 can be used to accomplish folding of thevalet arm 22.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 6, there is seen an exemplary structure bywhich the work table 24 is coupled to the upright member 16 for movementbetween its generally horizontal operative position and a foldedposition parallel to the upright member 16. In the illustratedembodiment, the table member 26 is a relatively thin member constructedof Masonite, Formica or the like. The table member 26 is provided withan edge reinforcing member 54 of hollow tubular material. The edgereinforcing member 54 has a circular cross-section. Rigidly secured tothe collar 48 by a weldment 56 is a cylindrical journal member 58, theouter diameter of which is complemental to the inner diameter of theedge reinforcing member 54. The journal member 58, as is evident fromFIGURE 5, bridges a gap between opposing ends of the edge reinforcingmember, and rests in the respective ends. Thus, the work table 24 isfree to pivot about the axis provided by the journal member 58 to aposition generally parallel with the upright member 16.

The manner in which the upright member 16 is coupled to the base 12 isbest seen in FIGURES l and 3. The base 12 is provided with a clevis 60and a pivot pin 62. The pivot pin 62 provides a generally horizontalaxis to which the segment 18 of the upright member 16 is pivoted. Links64 and 66, pivoted together at adjacent ends, and pivoted at theirdistal ends to the base 12 and segment 18 along horizontal axes, provideadditional support for the up right member 16, as Well as means wherebythe upright member may be locked in its operative position. A limit stop68 and detent 70 may also be provided on the links to ensure positivelocking of the upright member 16. The

structure may be further rigidified by laterally extending radius rods72, pivoted to the segment 18 on the common horizontal pivot 74 bestseen in FIGURE 3. The radius rods 72 may be provided at their distalends with keyhole slots, not shown on the drawings, for engagement withflanged anchor posts 76 on the base 12. Thus, the upright member 16 maybe rigidly held in upright disposition with respect to the base 12.

The flexibility and versatility of the present apparatus is now believedreadily apparent. Thus, the apparatus can be used in any of threeselected modes. Starting from the folded position, if only the utilityafforded by a clothes caddy is desired, the upright member 16 can berotated about the pivot pin 62 to its upright position, the segment 20withdrawn from the segment 18 to provide the necessary height of theupright member, and the valet arm 22 rotated to its horizontal position.The Work table 24 may be left in its folded position parallel to theupright member 16. If only the work table is required, the uprightmember 16 may be unfolded as before, the work table 24 rotated to itsgenerally horizontal position, and the leg members 28 and 30 from theirfolded positions in alignment with the work table to the downwardlyextending position. The segment 20 may be left telescoped within thesegment 18 to its fullest extent, and the valet arm 22 left in itsfolded position parallel to the upright member. In such position, theapparatus provides a table, rotatable to any desired horizontal positionas in FIGURE 2. Although the illustrated embodiment incorporates thedepending leg members 28 and 30, it should be understood that theapplicants invention is not limited in this regard. Thus, a cantileverstructure, without leg members 28 and 30, could also be used. In such aconstruction, any well-known lockable hinge could be used between theedge reinforcing member 54 and the collar 46. In its simpliest form sucha hinge could take the form of a set screw between the edge reinforcingmember 54 and the journal member 58. Finally, the apparatus may provideboth a clothes caddy and a work table, as seen in FIG- URE 1. In thismode of operation, the apparatus would be unfolded as to provide thework table, and then the segment 20 would be extended with respect tothe segment 18 as desired. Also, the valet arm 22 would be rotated toits generally horizontal position. It should be evident, therefore, thatthe simplicity and versatility of the present apparatus should be aclear advance in the art.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific form's withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof.

I claim:

1. An appanatus providing a clothes support and table comprising a basemember for contact with a support surface, an upright member coupled tosaid base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said upright memherbeing pivotably secured to said base member for pivoting between anoperative position wherein it extends upwardly from said base member anda folded position wherein it is disposed generally parallel to said basemember, a generally horizontally extending arm coupled to said uprightmember adjacent an upper end of said upright member, said arm beingpivotably secured to said upright member for pivoting between agenerally horizontal operative position and a folded position generallyparallel to said upright member, a planar table member, hinge meanspivotably coupling said table member to a medial portion of said uprightmember for pivoting in a generally horizontal plane to selectedpositions about said upright member, said hinge means including meansfor supporting said table member in a predetermined vertical positionwith respect to said upright member, and said table member beingpivotably secured to said hinge means for pivoting between a generallyhorizontal operative position and a folded position generally parallelto said upright member.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, said upright member comprisinga pair of telescoping sections, said arm being coupled to one of saidsections and said t-able member being coupled to the other, and meansinterengaging said sections for permitting selective adjustment of theheight of said upright member.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and leg means coupled to saidtable member and normally depending therefrom for contact with thesupport surface, said leg means being spaced from said upright member.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said hinge meanscomprises a first collar coupled to said upright member, a second collarcoupled to said table member, said upright member having a generallycircular cross-section, and said second collar encircling said uprightmember above said first collar.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said base member andsaid leg means are provided .with rolling anti-friction means wherebysaid apparatus may be readily moved relative to said support surface andsaid table member readily rotated about said hinge means.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and a journal member fixed tosaid second collar, and means on said table member in sliding engagementwith said journal member whereby said table member is pivotably securedto said hinge means.

7. An apparatus providing a clothes support and table, comprising a basemember for contact with a support surface, an upright member coupled tosaid base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said upright memberbeing pivotably secured to said base member for pivoting between anoperative position wherein it extends upwardly from said base member anda folded position wherein it is disposed generally parallel to said basemember, a generally horizontally extending arm coupled to said uprightmember adjacent an upper end of said up right member, said arm beingpivotably secured to said upright member for pivoting between agenerally horizontal operative position and a folded position generallyparallel to said upright member, a planar table member, hinge meanspivotably coupling said table member to a medial portion of said uprightmember for pivoting in a generally horizontal plane to selectedpositions about said upright member, said hinge means including meansfor supporting said table member in a predetermined vertical positionwith respect to said upright member, and leg means coupled to said tablemember and normally depending therefrom for contact with the supportsurface, said leg means being spaced from said upright member, saidtable member being pivotably secured to said hinge means for pivotingbetween a generally horizontal operative position and a folded positiongenerally parallel to said upright member, said leg means beingpivotably coupled to said table member for folding to a positiongenerally parallel to said table member when said table member is in itsfolded position.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said base member andsaid leg means are provided with rolling anti-friction means wherebysaid apparatus may be readily moved relative to said support surface andsaid table member readily rotated about said hinge means, said hingemeans comprising a first collar secured to said upright member, a secondcollar coupled to said table member, said upright member having agenerally circular cross-section, and said second collar encircling saidupright member above said first collar, and said upright membercomprising a pair of telescoping sections, said arm being coupled to oneof said sections and said table member being coupled to the other, andmeans interengaging said sections for permitting selective adjustment ofthe height of said upright member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,499,062 2/ 1950 Greenberg108-50XR 2,675,926 4/1954 Simjian 211-123 XR 2,677,518 5/1954 Happy etal. 211-178 XR 2,743,146 4/1956 Wheeler 108-50 2,988,413 6/1961 Bergen108-50 XR 3,071,253 1/1963 Walsh et al. 211-178 3,168,329 2/1965Goldschmidt 211-178 XR BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 108-50; 211-178

